Spearfish resident wins secession as Days of 76 ends

The final rodeo performances began on Saturday night and the money poured in for rodeo athletes from far and wide.

In some events there were multiple champions, with the winners with the highest score having the average score.

The breakaway roping champion was Rickie Fanning of Spearfish. Her time of two seconds was enough to earn her $5,292.

Fanning defeated Shelby Boisjoli-Meged of Miles City, Mont., Joey Williams of Volberg, Mont., and Harley Meged of Miles City. All three clocked a time of 2.1 seconds.

Gus Franzen of Kearney, Nebraska was the steer wrestling champion with a time of 8.8 seconds. He won $3,973. Second place was tied for second place by Shane Frey of Duncan, Oklahoma and Justin Shaffer of Hallsville, Texas. They each won $3,195.

Eli Lord of Sturgis was the highest-ranked South Dakotan in steer wrestling with a time of 12 seconds. He finished in a tie for 10th place.

The team roping champions were Lightning Aguilera of Athens, Texas, and Lane Mitchell of Bolivar, Tennessee. They won $3,354 with a time of 10 seconds.

In second place were Tyler Worley of Berryville, Arkansas, and Brye Crites of Welch, Oklahoma, who won with a time of 11.7 seconds and earned $2,917.

Jade Nelson of Midland, South Dakota was the highest-ranked Rushmore State finisher in sixth place. Nelson and teammate Turner Harris of Killdeer, ND, earned $1,167 with a time of 13.8 seconds.

The highest average score tie-down roper was tied between Dylan Hancock of San Angelo, Texas and Blane Cox of Cameron, Texas. They both earned $3,776 with a time of 18.8 seconds.

Brock Belkham of Flandreau was the highest in average score among South Dakotans in tie-down roping. He had a time of 21.7 seconds and earned $1,932.

Kelton McMillen of Weatherford, Okla., was the average score steer roping champion with a time of 37 seconds and earnings of $1,369. Jess Tierney of Hermosa was second with a time of 37.3 and earned $2,732.

Next up are the winners of the first round of their respective competitions, with Wenda Johnson of Pawhuska, Okla., winning the barrel race. She won with a time of 17.16 seconds and earned $5,573. Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs was the highest-ranked South Dakotan in 11th place and earned $1,394.

The bareback riding champion for the first round was tied: Leighton Berry of Weatherford, Texas, and RC Landingham of Hat Creek, California, each won $5,293. Cole Reiner of Buffalo, Wyoming, was third with earnings of $3,396.

The highest ranked South Dakota bareback rider for average score was Kashton Ford of Sturgis. The 18-year-old bareback rider scored 81.5 and earned no money.

Q McWhorter of Petrolia, California, won the saddle bronc riding with a score of 87.5 and earnings of $6,007. Second place went to Kade Bruno of Challis, Idaho and third place went to Shorty Garrett of Eagle Butte. They won $4,605 ​​and $3,404, respectively.

Cox and Zane Gilgus of Pryor, Okla., tied for first-round tie-down roping champions with 9.1 seconds. They both won $2,518.

The bull riding champion was Jestyn Woodward of Custer with a score of 88.5 and took home the top prize of $5,809. Hayes Weight of Goshen, Utah, was second with a score of 88 and won $4,454. Parker Breding of Edgar, Mont., finished third and earned $3,292.

The second round champions were Rowdy Parrott of Mamou, Louisiana, who won the steer wrestling with a time of 3.9 seconds and earned $2,648. Isaiah Na’auao-Asing Haiku of Hawaii was second with a time of 4.1 seconds and earned $2,303.

Tegun Spring of Enning was the highest ranked round two steer wrestler. He had a time of 5.6 seconds and earned no money.

Tyler Wade of Terrell, Texas, and Wesley Thorp of Throckmorton, Texas, won team roping in round two with a time of 4.6 seconds and earned $2,236. Aguilera and Mitchell placed second in round two with a time of 4.9 seconds and earned $1,944.

Tracer Olson of Wanblee and Wyatt Tibbitts of Piedmont finished highest among South Dakotans in round two of team roping, with a time of 5.8 seconds and no money.

Shad Mayfield of Clovis, NM, won round two of tie-down roping with a time of 7.5 seconds. He earned $2,693.

Piedmont’s Winston Brown was the highest-ranked South Dakotan in round two of tie-down roping with a time of 11 seconds. He earned no money.

Trent Johnson of Blue Mound, Kansas, won the second round of steer roping with a time of 9.3 seconds and earned $2,095. Tierney was second and earned $1,685 with a time of 10.8 seconds.

Steer roping was the only event that had three rounds. The winner of the third round was Brodie Poppino of Big Cabin, Oklahoma.

Now that the rodeo festivities were over, it was laughter and cheering for many local rodeo athletes. Jace Melvin of Fort Pierre was one of them. Although he didn’t show up to compete in his steer wrestling event, he still enjoyed being at what he calls a home rodeo.

“Deadwood has a great rodeo,” Melvin said. “One of my favorites. I love coming to it. I’m originally from Fort Pierre. It’s not a hometown rodeo, but I have a lot of family and friends that I normally only see at the rodeo in Deadwood. I really enjoy coming here.”